Cord retriever



S. T. STRAN G CORD RETRIEVER Nov. 21. 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1932 arm/um Intermediate its ends the reel mounting member 17 is provided with a depending transverse cylindrical portion 22, in which a spring-driven reel 23 is journaled in a manner to be hereinafter described in detail. Y

At the upper end of the tube 13' of handle member 13, a stationary pulley block 24 is mounted. The block 24 is preferably provided with a cylindrical portion 25 fitting tightly within the tube 13 and having a shoulder 26 abutting the end of the tube. One or more pulleys may be journaled in the cylindrical portion 25 of the block. 24 as by the pin 27, a set of three pulleys 24a, 24b and 240 being shown.

A movable pulley block 28 is preferably slidably mounted within the tube 13, and has journaled therein, as on the pin 29, .a plurality of pulleys cooperating with the pulleys in block 24 and numbering one more than the number of pulleys in block 24, a set of four pulleys 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d being shown.

The pulleys in each block are grooved to take the usual conductor cord, and are shown of varying diameters conforming to the circular cross sectional shape of the tube 13 in order to utilize the largest possible diameter pulleys which can be located side by side within the circular cross sectional area of the tube. This reduces wear on the conductor cord as compared with bending the cord sharply around small diameter pulleys.

The conductor cord 14 is led from the motor 11 through the handle socket 20 on the bracket 21, as shown in Fig. l, and thence into the reduced tubular portion 19 of the reel housing member 17. From the tubular portion 19 the cord 14 extends through a passage 30 provided in the upper portion of member 17 and communicating between the portion 19 and the socket 18, and thence into tube 13', as shown in Fig. 3. The cord 14 is then led upwardly through tube 13' and passes slidably through a longitudinal passage 31 formed in the movable block 28 near its periphery and at one side of the pulleys 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d journaled therein. From passage 31 a portion 32 of the cord 14 extends upwardly through tube 13' and passes through a longitudinal passage 33 formed in the stationary block 24 at one side of pulleys 24a, 24b and 240. The passage 33 communicates with one end of an arcuate groove 34 formed in the outer face of block 24, and the groove 34 communicates at its other end with a longitudinal passage 35 ex: tending through the block 24 (Figs. 2 and 7). The passage 35 extends through the block 24 at the side of the pulleys 24a, 24b and 240 opposite the passage 33. The portion 32 of the cord is led upward through passage 33, around groove 34 and thence downward through passage 35.

Since the block 24 is stationary, the portion 32 of the cord remains fixed relative to tube 13, and themovable block 28 is free to move longitudinally relative to the tube 13', the passage 31 of the movable block sliding up and down on the portion 32 of the cord.

From the passage 35 in the stationary block 24, a portion 32' of the cord is led downward through tube 13 and around pulley 28d, and thence the cord is led successively around the corresponding pulleys in pulley blocks 24 and 28. The portion 32 forms a loop around pulley 28d, portion 32c forms a loop around pulleys 24c and 28c, portion 321) forms a loop around pulley 24b and 28b, and portion 32a forms a loop around pulleys 24a and 28a. From pulley 28a, the cord extends upwardly through the tube 13' and passes slidably through another longitudinal passage 36 formed in the side of block 24 adjacent the passage 33, the cord emerging therefrom at 14'.

Thus the stationary block 24 and the movable block 28, with the cord 14 wound successively around their respective pulleys, form a compound pulley arrangement housed within the tube 13'. Since there are four pulleys in the movable block 28 each supporting one loop or two plies of the cord, the portion 14 of the cord will travel approximately eight times as far as the movable block 28. Accordingly, if the length of tube 13 is such that the movable block 28 may move longitudinally therein a distance of say, three feet, the conductor cord leading from the handle 13, to the power-socket may be extended approximately twenty-four feet.

Means for normally urging the movable block 28 downwardly in the tube 13' to wind up the cord 14 on the pulleys, preferably includes the spring-driven reel 23, which is journaled in portion 22 of reel mounting member 17. Means for operatively connecting the reel to the movable block may constitute a wire cable 37 secured at one end, as at 38, to the block 28 and wrapped around the reel. The other end of the cable 37 is secured to the reel in any suitable manner, as for instance by extending the cable through the body of the reel andsecuring its end in a socket in the opposite side thereof, as shown at 39.

Preferably, the cylindrical portion 22 of the reel mounting member 17 is provided with side plates 40 and 41, which are secured to the portion 22 of member 17, as by screws 42. A shaft 43 is located coaxially with cylindrical portion 22 and journaled in side plates 40 and 41. The shaft 43 preferably extends beyond plates 40 and 41, and is provided at one end with the squared portion 44. The shaft may be provided with a bore of the portion 46 abutting side plate 41 and the 7 other side abutting the reel 23 for locating the reel centrally of the plates 40 and 41.

For the purpose of facilitating assembly, a shouldered sleeve 47 is provided on the shaft 43 at the other side of the reel 23, one end of the sleeve fitting in an annular socket 48 in the face of the reel, and the other end abutting side plate 40.

For driving the reel 23, preferably two coil springsare provided. Spring 49 is located between the reel and the plate 40, and spring 50 is located between the reel and plate 41. The inner end of spring 49 is secured to sleeve 47 and shaft 43 by a screw 51, and its outer end is secured to portion 22 as by a rivet 52. The inner end of spring 50 is secured to portion 46 of shaft 43 as by a screw 53, and its outer end is secured to portion 22 as by a rivet 54.

Means operative at one end of the shaft 43 for releasably connecting the reel 23 thereto may include a plunger 55 slidably inserted in the bore 45 of shaft 43 and having a knurled head 56 at its outer end. A spring 57 is positioned in the bore between the inner end of plunger 55 and the inner end of the bore 45 for normally urging the plunger outwardly.

A pin or key 58 extends through the plunger 55 and through a slot 59 formed in the shaft 43 at the central portion thereof. The reel is provided at its axially central portion with an an- Illllar opening 60 in which the pin is adapted reaches to rotate relative to the reel, and an annular flanged portion or projects inwardly from the outer wall of the annular opening to and is provided with slots or keyways 62 for receiving the ends of pin 58.

Normally, the pin is held in the slots62 by the spring 57 for connecting the reel 23 with the shaft 43 so that the springs 49 and 50 will drive the reel. When it is desired, after assembling, to adjust the tension on the springs 49 and 5c, the plunger is pushed inwardly until the pin leaves the slots 62 and is free to turn in the annular opening 60. By holding the pin in this position and applying a wrench to the squared portion i l of the shaft, the springs may be wound relative to the reel. When the desired amount of tension has been applied to the springs, the pin is reentered in slots 62 by allowing the spring 57 to move the pin 58 outwardly against the annular portion 61, holding the knurled portion 56 of the plunger to prevent rotation thereof and allowing the shaft 43 to rotate slowly while restraining it with the wrench until the pin drops into slots 62, when the springs 49 and 50 will drive the reel.

The handle grip 15 is preferably provided at its inner end with a reduced cylindrical portion '55, which is secured in the axial socket 66 provided in the stationary pulley block 24, as by screw 67. Preferably, the portion id of the cord extends through an aperture in the handle grip, passes over a pulley 68 journaled in the handle grip adjacent the block 24, and between pulleys 69 journaled in the outer end of the handle grip, ior reducing friction on the cord.

Preferably, the blocl; 24 is provided at its periphery with a slot 70 communicating with passage 36, and a spring-pressed cam lever'loa is pivotally mounted in said slot lornorrnally enthe cord to hold it in any desired extended position.

Switch means is preferably provided in the block 24 for breaking the circuit between the motor ll and the power supply. This switch means is shown more or less conventionally as including a member 71 movable in the block and having blades '32 for making contact between the conductors in the stationary portion 32 of the cord.

In the operation of a vacuum cleaner embodymy improved cord retrieving means, the operator grasps the handle griplo and places his thumb upon the cam lever 70a. By releasing the cam lever ice from engagement with the portion id of the cord, the vacuum cleaner may be moved to any distance from the power-supplying socket in which the plug 16 is engaged, the movable pulley block 28 moving toward the stationary block 24 and unwinding the wire cable 37 on the reel 23 against the tension of springs as and so,

and the movement of the cleaner from the power--' supplying socket will be approximately eight times as far as the movement of the movable block 28 in the tube 13' toward the block 24. If at any time the operator desires to maintain the cord in an extended position for cleaning within a small area, he has only to release the pressure upon the cam lever low when the cord will be maintained in extended position. The switch means "ll is conveniently located so as to be operated at any time by the operators hand which grasps the handle grip 15;

thus the conductor cord 14' leading from the upon the floor or tending to become entangled with articles of furniture.

flhe improved cord retrieving means is simple and compact in construction, and involves no sliding contacts tending to give a poor connection.

The improved cord retrieving means is adapted to be housed within a tubular handle of a vacuum cleaner without materially increasing the size and bulk or changing the appearance of said handle as compared with that type of handle usually employed in connection with vacuum cleaners; Also, when the apparatus is not in use substantially the entire cord is enclosed so as to prevent excessive wear or deterioration thereof.

Obviously, the improved cord retrieving means may be applied to any portable electrical apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electrical apparatus having a tubular member and a conductor cord extending'therethrough, a retriever for the conductor cord including, a stationary block iixed in the tubular member and having a pulley journaled therein, a movable block slidable inthe tubular member below the stationary block and having pulleys journaled therein, the conductor cord being wound successively around said pulleys, a spring-driven reel iournaled in the tubular member, and means operatively connecting the reel with the movable pulley block, one end of the conductor cord being connected to the ap= paratus and the other end being adapted for connection with the power supply.

-2. in combination with an electrical apparatus U having a tubular member and a conductor cord extending therethrough, cord retrieving means including a stationary block fixed in the tubular member and having a pulley journaled therein, a movable block slidably mounted in the tubular member and having pulleys journaled therein,

the conductor cord being wound successively around the pulleys, a spring-driven reel jour naledin the tubular member, means operatively connecting the reel with the movable pulley block, and releasable means at the stationary block for maintaining the conductorcord desired extended position.

3. in combination with an electrical apparatus having a tubular member and a conductor cord extending therethrough, a retriever tor the conductor cord including, a stationary block fixed in the tubular member and a pulley joui naled therein, a movable block slidable the tubular member below the stationary bloclrand having pulleys iournaled therein, the conductor cord being woundsuccessively around said pul= lays, a shaft journaled in and extending through said tubular member, a spring connected atone end to the shaft'and at the other end to the tubu= lar member, a reel, means operative at oneend of the shaft releasably connecting the reel to the shaft, and means operatively connecting the reel with the movable pulley block.

a. In combination with an electrical apparatus having a tubular member and a conductor cord, cord retrieving means including a station= ary block fixed in one end of the tubular member and having a pulley journaled therein, a movable block slidable in the handle and having pulleys 1 'journaled therein, a spring-driven reel journaled in the tubular member, means operatively connecting the reelwith the movable block, the c0n-,

, ductor cord being wound successively around the pulleys, one end of the cord being extended through the stationary block and the other end being extended through the movable block and the other end of the tubular member.

5. In an electric vacuum sweeper having a tubular handle of circular cross section and a conductor cord, cord retrieving means including a stationary block fixed in the handle and having a pulley journaled therein, a movable block slidably mounted in the handle and having pulleys journaled therein, the pulleys in the movable block having varying diameters to conform to the cross sectional shape of the tubular member, the conductor cord being wound successively around the pulleys, a spring-driven reel journaled in the handle, and means operatively connecting the reel with the movable pulley block.

6. In an electric vacuum sweeper having a motor, a tubular handle and a conductor cord, cord retrieving means including a stationary block mounted in the top of the handle and having a pulley journaled therein, a movable block slidable in the handle and having a pulley journaled therein, the conductor cord being wound successivelyv around said pulleys, one end of the cord being attached to the motor and the other end being adapted for connection with the power supply, a spring-driven reel journaled in the handle, means operatively connecting the reel with the movable block, a handle grip on the stationary block, and releasable means at the handle grip for maintaining the conductor cord in any desired extended position.

7. In an electric vacuum sweeper having a motor, a tubular handle and a conductor cord, cord retrieving means including a stationary block mounted in the top of the handle and having a pulley journaled therein, a movable block slidable in the handle and having a pulley journaled therein, the conductor cord being wound successively around said pulleys, a spring-driven reel journaled in the handle, means operatively connecting the reel with the movable block, and a handle grip on the stationary block, one end of the conductor cord being attached to the motor and the other end being led out through the stationary block and handle grip for connection with the power supply.

8. In combination with an electrical apparatus having a tubular member of circular cross section and a conductor cord extending therethrough, cord retrieving means including a stationary block fixed in the tubular member and having a set of pulleys journaled therein, a movable block slidably mounted in the tubular member and having a cooperating set of pulleys journaled therein, the pulleys in each set having varying diameters to conform to the cross sectional shape of the tubular member, the conductor cord being wound successively around the several pulleys, one end of the cord being connected to the electrical apparatus and the other end being adapted for connection with the power supply, a springdriven reel journaled in the tubular member, and means operatively connecting said reel with the movable pulley block.

STEPHEN T. STRANG. 

